Facilitator Notes

This is a special version of the Study Guide for
The Book of Broken Promises. Text in brackets
[like
this] is
not included in the standard Study Guide. All notes
[in the brackets]
are those of J. Michael Blumer, author of The Book of
Broken Promises. The bracketed notes are his thoughts on character
motives, feelings and personalities as they relate to the study guide questions
and activities. At the end of both this Facilitator’s version, and the standard
version of the Study Guide, is contact information for the author, who is
available to participate with educators and with book clubs.

Part I. Story and Author

About the Author

J. Michael Blumer started writing in high school and
usually carried a spiral notebook where he jotted down simple musings,
observations about people, and thoughts on life in general.

In college he took a creative writing class. His first
assignment was to write a piece of nonfiction. He wrote about an adventure he
had with a friend at an abandoned farmhouse they thought was haunted. The
instructor gave Mike a “D” along with a note that said he had a creative and
dramatic flair, but the assignment was nonfiction, not some wild story dreamed
up in Mike’s imagination. His rebellious attitude took over and he dropped the
class. His story was true. Well, maybe he did embellish it just a bit.

Mike switched his major to business but his writing dream
stayed alive in the back corners of his mind. Over thirty years later he decided
to chase that dream again and took the time to do some serious writing. With
hard work, a bit of luck, and encouragement that he didn’t have in his younger
years, he made that dream come true.

Inspiration for the Story

The idea for book two began when a library sponsored young
adult book club in Australia read Mike’s first book. The Book Factory Book Club
made Mike promise to write a second book. He didn’t want to disappoint them and
began thinking about promises. That led to Mike’s idea for book two, all about
broken and kept promises.

About the Story

Windslow, a boy in a wheelchair and his stepsister,
Hillary, solve the final mysteries of the Book of Second Chances in the first
story. At the end of book one, the Book of Broken Promises appears in Windslow’s
lap, promising a new adventure.

Hillary and Windslow discover the Sallyforth Triplets and
Fistlock all survived the catastrophe at the end of book one and live on earth
now. Windslow and Hillary travel back to Gabendoor. They discover the spirit of
an evil wizard named Gristle-tooth, is breaking free from his prison.
Gristle-tooth had promised to destroy all of Gabendoor. Windslow learns that
Molly Folly Sallyforth is in a coma on earth.

Hillary’s birth father, whom she hasn’t seen in years,
wants to meet with her. She had promised herself she would never have anything
to do with him again. Her promise and Windslow’s promise to save Molly, show up
as words in the Book of Broken Promises.

Windslow finds himself in Aghasta’s realm, a place where
time is controlled by time mists that shift everything it touches from one
dimension in time to another. While Windslow struggles to stop Aghasta, Hillary
struggles to stop Gristle-tooth. Everything depends on timing and which promises
Windslow and Hillary keep and which promises they break.

Main Characters

§Windslow Summerfield: Hillary’s stepbrother and hero in the
story.

§Hillary Windgate-Summerfield: Windslow’s stepsister and heroine in
the story.

§Gristle-tooth: The spirit of an evil wizard from the past who
promised to destroy everything and everyone.

§Aghasta: A sylph who loves Gristle-tooth and rules the time-mists
of Gabendoor.
[Sylph: Any
of a class of elemental, soulless beings that in the theories of Paracelsus were
believed to inhabit the air. American Heritage Dictionary.]

§Fistlock: An evil wizard who ruled Gabendoor in the past.

§Bitterbrun: Fistlock’s bumbling chamberlain and assistant.

§Haggerwolf, Fernbark, and Larkstone: Three retired wizards who
help Windslow and Hillary battle Fistlock.

§Molly Folly Sallyforth: A strange girl from Gabendoor who
sometimes tells the truth and sometimes doesn’t. She is one of three triplet
sisters.

Part II. Questions for Discussion Before Reading the Book

[These questions help prepare for later compare and
contrast questions. In the end, the story teaches that Broken Promises don’t
come from magic, they come from action.]

A)The book is about Broken Promises. Do
you think it is easy or hard to keep a promise?

B)Describe a time when you made a promise
you wished you could break or one you did break.

C)Tell why it was important to either
keep or break this promise.

D)When we make a promise, do we know if
we can really keep it?

E)Is a promise the same thing as a
guarantee?

F)Is it always wrong to break a promise?

G)Is it ever right to break a promise?

H)Do we ever make promises we know we
can’t keep?

Part III. Questions for Discussion During or After Reading the Book

A)The Book of Broken Promises is a
fantasy novel, but it teaches some lessons.

1)What is similar and different about your thoughts on Broken Promises
before reading the storyand after?

2)Describe one lesson you learned from reading the story.

3)Describe what lessons Hillary and Windslow learned, and why the
lessons were important.

[Windslow learned that you can’t keep every promise you
make. Sometimes it’s better to promise to do your best and try hard rather than
promise something specific.

Hillary learned that some promises should be broken, and
that it’s all right to break them sometimes. She learned that things that were
part of the promise in the beginning can change. The changes might change what
the promise was all about. She found that some promises you can never keep and
maybe shouldn’t have made in the first place.]

4)Describe one or two other lessons in the story, who learned them, and
why the lessons were important.

B)Sometimes stories make us think about
things in our own lives or about people we know. In the end, the story teaches
that Broken Promises do happen. It teaches that sometimes a promise never should
have been made, and it’s better to break it.

1)Compare two or three parts of promises in the story to similar events
that happened in your own life.

2)Tell how the story has changed how you think about promises in your past
or what you might do about those promises now?

3)Describe a promise that would be hard to keep and shouldn’t be made in
the first place.

C)Windslow and Hillary are step-brother
and step-sister.

1)Describe Hillary’s and Windslow’s similarities and differences.

[Similar: Both stepchildren, both the same age and go to
the same school. Windslow is more outgoing and thinks of all the ideas that get
them into trouble. Hillary thinks of consequences and tries to talk Windslow out
of some of his ideas, but usually gives in. Both have guilt about Windslow’s
accident.

Windslow’s guilt is over the secret that he was the one
that put Hillary’s stuffed animal on the roof in the first place. He put it
there so he could show off. To him, the accident was his own fault and
punishment for deceiving Hillary and his family to make them think he was a
hero.

Hillary has guilt too. She was showing off to her friends
and encouraged Windslow to rescue her stuffed animal. She was also flattered by
the fact that her girlfriends thought she was “cool” because her stepbrother was
cool and cute. She feels guilt because she thinks Windslow’s accident was her
fault.]

2)Compare and contrast their relationship at the beginning of the story to
their relationship at the end of the story. Why did it change?

[In the beginning of the story, they have a good
relationship, but Windslow tries to boss Hillary around and she lets him. They
argue a little, but mostly over things like Windslow using his slingshot to
shoot acorns at animals.

Because they are the same age and go to the same school,
they like to study and do homework together. Hillary gets annoyed sometimes
because she has to do chores that Windslow can’t do because of his wheelchair,
or because their parents feel sorry for him.

At the end, they work as a team, both doing things they
are good at. Being stepbrother and stepsister isn’t in their thoughts. They
feel like natural sister and brother. Hillary has become at being a leader and
Windslow has become good at taking action.

They are closer to each other. Windslow has new respect
for Hillary’s abilities. Hillary has new respect for Windslow’s abilities.
Instead of competing with each other, they both use the strengths of the other.]

3)How have Hillary and Windslow changed as people and what caused the
change?

[Windslow no longer fears heights, and isn’t worried
about people treating him different because he’s in a wheelchair. He knows he
can do many things. He has gained confidence and got rid of his guilt. Hillary
got rid of her guilt and learned how to be a leader instead of trying to let her
stepbrother always have all the attention. She has new found confidence in
herself and respect for her stepbrother. She has more self-esteem now that she
is out from under the shadow of her brother. They changed as they began to use
their abilities to overcome challenges in the story.]

4) Describe how these changes might be good or bad.

D)In the beginning of the story, Windslow
and Hillary’s relationship centers on Windslow’s accident and how they both felt
about it.

1)Compare and contrast the guilt Windslow felt and the guilt Hillary felt.
Discuss how it was different, even though guilt for both of them came from the
same thing.

[The event was the accident. Windslow felt it was his
fault. Hillary felt it was her fault. Windslow carries the extra burden of his
secret –he put the stuffed animal up on the roof in first place. Hillary feels
guilty because she knew there was a danger, yet she wanted to show off for her
friends through her stepbrother.]

2)By the end of the story, how have their feelings of guilt changed?

[In the end, the guilt had vanished as simply something
that happened in the past. Instead of worrying over why it happened, they both
accepted that it did. They now look to the futures for themselves and the people
who have become their friends.]

E)Both Windslow and Hillary had certain
feelings about themselves that changed by the time they finished their
adventure.

1)Compare and contrast how Windslow felt about being in a wheelchair at the
beginning, middle and end of the story. Why do you think his feelings changed?

[He didn’t like it when his parents didn’t treat him like
normal. They didn’t get mad at him or punish him when he was bad like they did
before the accident. Windslow wanted to be treated like a normal person. He was
happy when his parents got so mad they grounded him. In the end, the wheelchair
was just something that was there. To Windslow, it was like one person being
tall and another short. What did height matter? So he was in a wheelchair. It
didn’t matter.

Hillary felt it was partly her fault, and was protective
of Windslow. She also let him boss her around. By the end of the story, she had
seen how he concentrated on what he could do rather than what he couldn’t do.
She realized she didn’t need to punish herself by being her stepbrother’s slave.
She was amazed at what he was able to accomplish.]

F)At the beginning of the story everyone
had different ideas about what the book could do for them.

1)What did the people of Gabendoor want to have happen to the book? Why?

[Most of them thought like Fistlock. The thought they
would have unlimited chances to defeat Fistlock. They felt that without it, they
had no hope of ever defeating him.]

2)What were Windslow’s hopes for the book? Why?

[Windslow thought that maybe he could relive his climb on
the roof and avoid the accident that put him in the wheelchair. He thought the
book let you try things over and over again. He thought he could change the past
with the book.]

3)What were Hillary’s hopes for the book? Why?

[Hillary wanted to use the book to save Gabendoor from
the start. Hillary is protective, and has a good sense of what is right and
wrong. She didn’t like Windslow shooting acorns at animals with his slingshot.
She didn’t like what Fistlock was doing to Gabendoor. She never thought about
using the book for herself.]

4)What did the three wizards want to happen to the book? Why?

[Not so obvious from the book, the wizards wanted to keep
the book hidden so that no one could have a second chance. They secretly wanted
it to have a second chance at being powerful wizards again so they could save
Gabendoor.]

5)What did Fistlock want to do with the book? Why?

[Fistlock didn’t understand how the book worked. He
believed, like most people, that it gave you unlimited chances at things. He
thought that if he lost a battle, the book would let him try the same battle
again and again until he won. With the book, he would always stay in control of
Gabendoor.]

6)Even though no one knew how the book really worked, which character do
you feel had the best idea for how to use the book? Defend your reasoning.

[Everyone knew the book was magic and assumed it gave
unlimited Broken Promises. No one knew how to use the book to make its magic
work. No right answer, but the wizards had the best idea –keep it hidden. If no
one knew where it was, no one could use it. Molly Folly Sallyforth was the only
one who knew the book taught lessons about Broken Promises. That was its magic
–the magic of learning.]

[Molly is practical and upbeat. When faced with
adversity, she simply digs in and works at a solution. Molly believes you can do
anything you set your mind to.]

2)Describe the characteristics of Molly and how they contributed to her
attitude.

[Molly rarely gets angry and liked to laugh and have fun.
She always believes the best in everyone. She thinks that adults take things too
seriously. She is very playful.]

3)Compare and contrast the characteristics of Molly to the characteristics
of Hillary and Windslow.

[Windslow and Hillary worry about things and are hesitant
to take action at first. Molly doesn’t like to spend time worrying. She likes to
take action, sometimes without thinking first.]

4)Compare and contrast the characteristics of Molly to the three wizards.

[Molly is always positive and upbeat. She liked to have
fun and is a little mischievous. The wizards are serious most of the time and
are a bit “stuffy.” They are set in their ways and resist change. Molly is all
about change and trying new things.]

5)Discuss how Molly was different than most of the other characters.

[Molly rarely has any doubts. She had great confidence in
herself and in others. She sees the brighter side of things and never has bad
thoughts about anyone.]

6)What impact did Molly Folly have on Windslow, Hillary, and the three
wizards?

[Molly taught by example. She supports people, never
thinking or acting critical or unkind. She helped them all become confident. She
supported them all, cheered them up when necessary.]

H)Molly Folly Sallyforth taught people
lessons in her own special way.

1)How would you describe how Molly Folly Sallyforth taught lessons to
others?

[Molly taught by example and by encouraging others to
act.]

2)How do you think Molly Folly feels about Broken Promises? Why?

[Molly knew the secrets of the book from the very start.
She didn’t tell anyone because she knew the value would come from Hillary,
Windslow and the wizards figuring things out for themselves. She knew that a
second chance is there for anyone who wants to take one.

The book doesn’t say why, but hints at it. Molly’s
grandfather wrote the book and did help raise Molly and her sisters. He wrote
the book to be a lesson to others. But he was able to teach that lesson directly
to his granddaughters.]

I)In part of the story Windslow feels
very discouraged about himself. Molly tricks him.

1)How and why did Molly trick Windslow when he was locked in the dungeon?
Describe what her trick made Windslow realize.

[She pretended to have magic that would fix Windslow’s
back again. It helped him get his confidence back, restored his hope, and
boosted his courage.]

[It made him think Molly had magic to cast a spell to
heal his back. All Molly did was crinkle a candy wrapper to make a sound
Windslow thought was magic. When he found out it was a trick, he realized that
his ability to do things didn’t come from believing in magic, but believing in
himself.]

2)Do you think tricking Windslow was a good thing for Molly to do? Why or
why not?

J)The three wizards didn’t like the
Sallyforth girls.

1)What is “prejudice?”

2)Explain the difference between prejudice and just not liking someone.

3)Decide if you think the wizards were prejudiced against the Sallyforth
triplets or just didn’t like the girls. What made you come to this decision?
Give examples from the book that support your decision and explain the reasons
for your thoughts.

[They are grumpy old men and don’t like all the
shenanigans that the three girls pull. In a way (not clearly obvious in the
book) they are amused by the antics of the triplets, but feel that as wizards
they have a serious image to uphold. It’s not a matter of prejudice.]

K)Fistlock didn’t like lots of things.

1)In your opinion, why did Fistlock split people up into different
villages?

[From chapter 12: “Fistlock hated families. He broke them
apart and sent children to live in one place, parents in another and
grandparents in places like this village, Eldervale. Fistlock had villages for
overweight people, cities for short people and even isolated lodges for people
with warts.” We don’t know more about Fistlock’s reasons. From the author:
Fistlock hated families because he never had a happy family life growing up. He
became obsessed with putting people in groups –more a case of sorting people
into categories to keep them from being individuals.]

2)Give some examples, in our world today, that are similar to what Fistlock
did.

3)For at least one of your examples, describe some possible solutions to
keep this sort of thing from happening.

L)When Windslow, Hillary, the Wizards,
and even Fistlock thought they might have the book, it seemed to give them
confidence and the ability to do or try things they thought they couldn’t do
without the book. It turns out the book really didn’t help them the way they
thought it would.

1)What is a talisman?

2)Why do you think the Book of Broken Promises could be or could not be
considered a talisman?

3)Explain where you think Windslow’s, Hillary’s and the wizard’s confidence
and ability really came from.

4)Tell about cases in our world where people think that having things, like
a lucky rabbit’s foot, will help them do special things.

5)What does this tell us about ourselves or those special things?

Part IV. Topics for Research and Discussion

Topic 1: Character, Plot, Mood

A challenge in writing any story is developing the plot and
deciding what changes a character will go through as they struggle to succeed in
the end. Many times, when a character changes, there is a specific “turning
point.” The characters and setting work within a mood to help make the story
feel more real to readers.

A)At what point in the story did Windslow
feel like he was a failure?

[After the Gorlon captured Windslow and he was locked in
the dungeon. Fistlock took away the magic that let Windslow walk with crutches
in Gabendoor. Windslow thought that Molly might be dead.]

B)When was Windslow’s turning point? At
what point in the story did he overcome his fear?

[When Fistlock locks himself in the tower and prepares to
use the spire to destroy Eldervale, Windslow knows the only way to stop Fistlock
is to climb the outside of Crystal Mountain. Another turning point is when
Windslow rides the Gorlon to Eldervale during the battle with Fistlock’s
troops.]

C)What mood or feeling does The Book of
Broken Promises create? Cite evidence from the story that the author used to
create this mood.

[The author intended to convey more of a lighthearted
mood, rather than a sense of foreboding or “dark mood.”

The opening scene with the fox also is a mood setting
device. A pastoral setting in the woods, a wizard who can’t rhyme and mixed up
clothing all hint at a lighter story compared to a darker, more dramatic story.

Shadow creatures that work with the “bad guys” are an
example of mood setting. The shadow creatures are things we might be afraid of
as children, like shadows in corners or scary things under our beds. By giving
them names, like the tellagain, or the trundle-wraith, they are still monsters,
but fun monsters. Another example is the Sallyforth Sisters, who provide comic
relief at many points in the story.]

D)What visual images does the author use
to help you picture the setting and the characters?

[Examples that can be used; Chapter 3: Introduction of
Fistlock and his shadow creatures. Chapter 1: Introduction of the three wizards
and the patterns on their clothing. Chapter 3: Introduction of Bitterbrun.]

If you could be one of the wizards or one of the
Sallyforth triplets, which one would you choose and why.

Topic 2: World Building

Fantasy and science fiction, authors do what is called, “world
building.” The worlds their stories take place in don’t exist. The author must
create them. They can invent things that don’t exist in the real world but
everything must be believable to their readers. An author doesn’t always work
out all the details of what they create. They work out enough to make their
creation work in the story.

A)What period in time is the story set
in? Give evidence that supports your answer.

[The story doesn’t give a specific year, but is a fairly
modern timeframe. Clues are the automobiles, television, microwave oven,
motorized wheelchair, etc.

In Gabendoor, we don’t know what the timeframe is.]

B)What mode of transportation do Fistlock
and the three Wizards use to travel from Gabendoor to earth? Cite passages from
the story that explain how to use this mode of transportation and what it does
to the person who uses it for travel.

[A journey-wind. It can mix up your clothing. Once you
call one up, you can’t stop it from taking you someplace.]

C)What difficulties or advantages can you
think of for using this mode of transportation that weren’t explained in the
story by the author?

D)Name three of Fistlock’s shadow
creatures. Which one do you think is described the best? Explain why.

[Author’s favorite: The Tellagain that makes little old
men repeat the same stories over and over again.]

Topic 3. Reader Perspective

There some parts of fantasy writing that are always hard
decisions for a writer. How much detail the author should provide is one of
those decisions. Find something or someone in The Book of Broken Promises
that you wish the author had given you more information about, such as a person,
place, or thing.

A)What is the person, place, or thing you selected?

[Suggestions:

More about the Sallyforth Sisters. Where they came from,
why isn’t there any mention of their parents, where they live.

Who are or what are the Forge-Twiddlers and what other
inventions have they made?

More about Crystal Mountain.

More about Biffendear and all his frogs, toads and other
creatures.

The history of Dreadmoor temple.]

B)Why did you select it?

C)Tell what else you would like to know
and why.

D)Use your imagination and make up the
missing detail for the person, place, or thing you selected. Write it down so
that you can share it.

Topic 4. Main Versus Secondary Characters

In movies, sometimes an actor playing a supporting role wins
all the awards. In books, there are usually major characters and minor
characters. Sometimes a minor, or supporting, character steals the attention.
They become a favorite character.

A)What books have you read where your
favorite character wasn’t the main character? Tell who that character is and
describe what it was about this character that made you like them.

B)Compare and contrast what you like
about your favorite character and the main character of that book.

C)If you could be one of the wizards or
one of the Sallyforth triplets, which one would you choose and why?

Topic 5: Broken Promises

Windslow helped his teacher with her secret wish for a second
chance. Talk to some of your friends or a parent. Ask them what they would do
with a magic second chance, or what they have done with a second chance.

[J. Michael Blumer made time in his life to pursue
writing. He wrote The Book of Broken Promises and is working on the next one in
the five book series: The Book of Broken Promises.]

A)Why did they want a second chance?

B)What keeps them from taking one or why
did they take one they did?

C)If their wish is for something
impossible, like doing something over that happened in the past, what could they
do today that might be almost the same thing?

Topic 6: Perseverance

Sometimes people become successful after many failures. They
keep trying, making their own Broken Promises. Research a famous person’s life
who has succeeded after many attempts.

A)Who is the person and why are they famous?

B)Describe the lessons they learned and
how they learned them.

C)What was it that made them keep trying
or helped them keep trying?

D)What lessons have you learned, after
researching the person’s life, which you can apply to your life?

-or-

Describe a situation where you used a similar lesson in
your own life.

Topic 7. Changes in the Publishing Industry

Book writing and publishing is changing. For example, for the
first Harry Potter book, many publishers turned it down. They thought it
would not be successful, because it was a book for young readers, but written
more like a book for adults. Research how Harry Potter has changed the
way publishers think about books for young readers.

[Thoughts here are about things like Harry Potter
being too long for youth to read; the language too “adult” and more. The focus
is on how the popularity of Harry Potter spread “from playground to
playground,” and has changed the nature of publishing for early chapter readers,
middle grade readers, young adult and even adult readers. It has changed how
books are written, and has changed what gets published.

You can also get great results by doing a web search
using the string: “How Harry Potter changed the publishing industry”

One change is the creation of a separate children's
bestseller list by the New York Times. Another is awareness that kids' books are
not just for kids. ]

A)What are some of the changes predicted
for writers and publishers of books for younger readers? Explain why you agree
or disagree with those predictions.

B)If you have read Harry Potter, how does
it compare to other books you liked to read before Harry Potter was published?

C)What should publishers and writers do
differently to produce quality books for your reading taste?

[Some broad thinking: Books were written for children or
adults, but could not be successful if written for both age groups. A book
written for young readers would never find itself on a best seller list. Other
than a few classics, like Alice in Wonderland, fantasy books only appeal
to a small group of readers.]?

Topic 8. Disabilities

Windslow is in a wheelchair yet he has a great adventure. Many
people with disabilities have accomplished great things. Sometimes what they
accomplished might not have happened if they didn’t have the disability.

A)Research the life of a person who was
born with a disability, yet accomplished great things.

[Do a web search for “overcoming disabilities,”
“wheelchair athletes,” or “famous people with disabilities.” There are many
resources at the website for the Disability Resources Organization: http://www.disabilityresources.org/FAMOUS.html
]

B)Who is that person and what were her or
his accomplishments?

C)Describe at least three things you
discovered that you think helped them with their accomplishments.

D)Research the life of a person whose
disability came later in their life.

[A good example is Christopher Reeves. Find more examples
by having your student start with a web search for “Christopher Reeves.”]

E)Describe at least three things that you
think helped them overcome their disability.

F)Discuss what you think their life may
have been like without the disability.

G)How are the lives of the people you
researched similar or different?

Topic 9. Influence

Some people believe that excessive violence in movies and video
games contributes to increased violence in the people that watch and play them.
Some people say that science-fiction has lead to scientific discovery, increased
interest in science, and was partly responsible for the space program.

Describe the influence you think fantasy has, or has not had on
people.

What do you think about the idea that fantasy encourages people
to believe in magic solutions, or encourages them to hide away from real life
problems?

A)Do you agree or disagree? Why?

B)What do you like most about reading
fantasy? Why?

C)What do you like least about reading
fantasy? Why?

D)What would you change in the way
fantasy novels are written if you were a writer or a publisher? Why?

Topic 10. Stereotypes

Sometimes characters perpetuate stereotypes. All the heroes are
tall, white, blond-haired men or boys. All the villains are dark and not so
attractive men. Magic is all fireballs, windstorms, lightning bolts, and
explosions.

A)What is a stereotype?

B)Describe some stereotypes.

C)Select at least three fantasy books and
compare the main characters. Describe how they fit, or don’t fit a stereotype.
Write about what you found or discuss it with a friend.

D)Compare the magic and magic spells in
at least three books. Describe how they fit or don’t fit a stereotype.

E)Compare and contrast what you learn
about stereotypes to the magic and characters in The
Book of Broken Promises. How do the characters and magic compare to
stereotypes you found in the other books?

F)What do you think fantasy authors could
do to get away from stereotypes?

Part V. Class Activities

[These learning activities and story extensions provide
for students with different learning profiles, interests, and readiness.

Use or adopt them according to your student’s needs. The
suggested activities can be used for a whole group, small groups, pairs, or
individuals. The activities can be assigned to different groups. Products from
each group can be shared and/or displayed.]

Radio Show Activity:

Have one student be a radio show announcer. Have two or three
students be characters from The Book of Broken Promises. Have the
announcer conduct an interview, and accept call-in questions from the listeners
(other students).

Poster:

Create a poster that compares and contrasts the characteristics
and attributes of three characters.

Diary or BLOG:

Create diaries that Molly or another character might have kept
during their adventure in Gabendoor. Record entries that might have been
written by the character, describing their thoughts and feelings.

Online Author Interview:

Have the students prepare from five to ten questions to ask J.
Michael Blumer online. Schedule a time and method for an online chat or for back
and forth email to answer the questions.

I’ve Got a Secret – Yes, no, maybe so:

Give three students a secret name of a person, place or thing
for the class to guess. Student (1) must always lie. Student (2) must always
tell the truth. Student (3) can decide to tell the truth or not for each answer
they give.

Split the class into two or more groups. Each group takes a
turn asking a question following the order, student (1), student (2), student
(3). The first group to discover the secret, wins.

[Sample secret answers:

Forge-Twiddler

Forge-Twiddler Reversible Paint.

Dream-Slipping

Journey Wind]

Wacky Inventor:

The Forge-Twiddlers are a group of dwarfs who invent and
manufacture many things found in the world of Gabendoor. Nearly all of their
creations are a bit “wacky.” Most work in strange and unexpected ways, or have
flaws that keep them “fun.” For example, they make locks of all kind, but every
key is the same. If you have one key in Gabendoor, you can unlock just about
anything. Another example is their Forge-Twiddler Reversible Paint. Put the lid
upside down on the can and the paint disappears.

Have students invent their own Forge-Twiddler product. Tell how
the product is used and explain what is “wacky” about it. Products can be
described on paper, presented on a poster or made as a “mock-up” with craft
materials.

You could also have a Forge-Twiddler Science Fair.

Author Participation

You can continue your discussion and ask the author questions
at (http://) www.gabendoor.com

The author, J. Michael Blumer, is available to work with your
class or book club. Availability depends on his schedule and your needs. To
request his participation or support, email him at: jmblumer@gabendoor.com.